St. Paul daily globe., 1887-10-22
HERE'S A HOWD'DO!
An Insight Into the Character ana
Methods OF EX-GOv. Pierce
Which Ought to Make His


Which Ought to Make His
Friends Blush for Him.
To the Editor of the Globe.
What means the reporter of the PiO-
neer Press. called its Dakota editor. by
his unbridled abuse of Gov. Church.
this high-toned gentleman, who would
not make the appointments last winter,
while Gov. Church'S confirmation was
delayed, because he was too honorable?
He was then continually protesting he
had no hand in the job, as were
his friends, if such he has any. Look
at the course of this man. Is he consist
ent with the idea that he has any honor at
all? His subsequent course indicates
that he was at that time concerned III
the dirty piece of business that demOr-
allied the Dakota Legislature for half of
its session. He was fresh from wash,
ingtOn, and had been treated kindly and
considerably by President Cleveland.
If all accounts are true, at his own sOlic-
itation he was allowed to remain III Of
flee until the legislature met, so as to
deliver his message to the Legislature
and retire honorably. And what was
his object in cunningly asking this
privilege? Simply this, and nothing
more. If he could hold until the senate
met then he could have Church's con-
tirmation held up. BY this delay he
could hold on himself. and finally, under
a pretenSe of neceSSity-of being forced
by neceSSity-make the appointment
and particularly keep his heHchman
Raymond in as treasurer. Why Gov.
Church should retain Raymond in the
Office of treasurer, after the treatment
he has received from Pierce, Democrats
can't understand. This fact has left
him open to attack from Democrats.
We can't understand it.
Gov. Church always spoke in defense
Of Pierce, and yet the former had not
been sworn in twenty-f0ur hours before
Pierce began to try and undermine,
weaken and belittle the man towards
whom he should have felt kindly.
Church was new and untried, and he
felt the need of friends on whom he
could rely. He is known to be a firm,
ightforward, plain man. Pierce de-
sired to be the power behind the throne.
and was in fair way to do so until his
recommendation of Edwards for pub
lie examiner set Gov. Church think
ing. 4 certain prominent man
lately dropped the remark that
the old YanktOn and Sioux
Falls ring had undertaken the job to
make Church's administration as odious
as any former governors; and this
crowd have for the time being, been
joined by another in North Dakota, who
have heretofore run everything and
don't like Church's independence. Let
us see what he has done. Well, these
fellows in Yankton don't like the
asylum matter. The Sioux Falls
crowd did not like Dan. Glidden's
appointment as warden of the
Sioux Falls penitentiary. In the
north the withdrawal of Edwards
name for public examiner, Church's
refusal to reappoint John Haggart and
.Jud LaMoure on the Bismarck peniten-
tiary board, and the appointment of
Frank r. Wilson, of Bathgate, as assist
ant superintendent of public instruc-
ton. did not suit these gentlemen. Mr..
Wilson was the Democrat that was
cheated out of his seat in the council in
1885 by this element, and he was
Odious to them. Church'S declining
to sign the capitol commission bill,
unless the clause that provided for
taking $50, 600 out of the general fund
of the treasury to pay the illegal war-
rants issued by the capitol commission
was stricken from the BILL hurt good
many. The governors action was in
striking contrast to Pierce'S, in direct
ing Attorney General Rice to dismiss
supreme court from the decision
Judge Francis made. Pierce evidently,
in obedience to orders, had the ap-
peal dismissed, intending to pave
the way to their payment
by appropriation in 1887, which Church
prevented. Did Pierce have any of
these warrants? Is this another cause
of complaint on Pierce's part? A SAM
pie of this warrant business may be seen
in the shed north of the capitol. The
cost could not have been over 5000 or
$500. yet $4,000 worth of capitol commits
sion warrants were issued, under the
sanction of Pierce. Auditor Cald-
well would never have issued
them if Pierce had objected
and no one ever heard of
his objecting, and he certainly did not
object. But what does he do? Why,
Judge Francis renders a decision in
their favor: and no sooner does AttOr-
ney General Rice appeal from that de-
cisiOn to the supreme court than Pierce
directs the appeal dismissed, and the
honest attorney general promptly re-
signs in disgust. Pierce Scrapes the
territory from end to end, for weeks,
for a successor. Yes, here had been
$4,000 of warrants illegally issued: for
there was not only not a quorum of the
commission to pass on the question of
their issuance before they were actually
issued but several vacancies existed on
the board, and no meeting of the board
was called. Yet the credit of the ter
ritOry was to be jeopardiZed by job of
this kind; and, then because Church
won't help them out by signing their
bill. they are unhappy.
Then, the action of Ward and Church
on the assessment of railroad lands was
too popular all act and too much capital
for Democratic administration, and
showed too much nerve to suit these
fellows; and the word goes out from the
Northern Pacific Railroad cOmpany'S
Office that Church and Ward must be
fought. And Pierce has. with others.
taken the contract-at least it looks so,
These are but few reasons why Church
is not liked by a certain crowd. Pierce
continues his abuse, degenerating al
most into slander, and yet poses as an
honorable man. Astonishing it is that
the Pioneer Press should allow this man
to ignore the many interesting questions
that concern Dakota people, and which
might be discussed with profit to every
community in our territory, and that
would aid US to build up and advance
the material interests of the territory
and permit him week after week to in
against Gov. Church for no
other purpose than because he
has spoiled some of his jobs. Pierce
wants to embarraSS him in his efforts at
good government, and, by so doing,
thinks he is advancing his political for
tunes by making alliances with the
4ankton and Sioux Falls ring. He is
allowing himself to be made tool of.
whose use will cease with the work i'm
hand, for these fellows know him well.
The Pioneer Press is demonstrating that
its editors have no care or thought for
our real welfare and the interest of Our
people. Aid us in everything that will
benefit our territory Give Church and
Ward and every other official encour-
agement when they do anything that
deserves credit and criticiSe them when